Vic to fight for laws banning race hate

Victoria will fight changes to the federal Racial Discrimination Act that would make it easier for bigots to practice hate speech.

The Senate this week debated a private member's bill - proposed by One Nation and Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm - which would decimate federal race hate laws.

Victorian Multicultural Affairs Minister Robin Scott on Friday said the state government would make a submission to a federal inquiry supporting section 18C of the Act which makes it illegal to "offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate" based on a person's race or ethnicity.

"Discrimination is never acceptable and people have the right to be accepted for who they are," Mr Scott said in a statement, adding all Victorians deserved strong legislative protections.